The Bodyguard ("Glass" story #63)

GLASS
by Michael Kroetch

The bodyguard is hungry. He’s not eaten in awhile. It might be a few days, but it could be longer. He’s also started to feel a shaking inside, which seems to be somehow connected to the hunger. He is excited by the sensation because whenever it happens the wire in his ear also crackles softly—as if a message were being transmitted. But he doesn’t want to get too excited by the possibility. He knows this isn’t appropriate. Much better to be patient. Better to maintain himself as he is. Remain on guard. He also knows well the need to discipline his thought. Keep it away from food. Overcome his desire. The subject was an important element of his training and the bodyguard listened carefully to everything that was said.

Right now, as he walks past a restaurant, he repeats to himself many of the words from his training. He did the same thing yesterday when he went past this restaurant. But today, unlike yesterday, he is so close to the restaurant’s window he can smell the food through its glass. The people eating at the table try and pretend not to see him. The people at the table have ordered some of the best items on the menu and are doing their best to enjoy the delicacies. The bodyguard looks into their faces as they chew. He can hear their teeth click. Before they were talking, not now. Now they are only eating. The bodyguard does not let himself look at their food. Or their teeth. He doesn’t want to make them nervous.

But then, within him, the trembling begins again and he can’t help himself. Against his will he makes a low whimpering-whooping noise. He does so because he’s sure he hears a message coming over his wire. In his excitement he begins to thump his forehead against the window. Again. Again. And again. Harder and harder. Each time he does, the crackle over his wire repeats and grows in strength. Becoming louder and louder. The people at the table have stopped eating. They seem unable to move or even call out to the waiter for help. The pounding against the glass continues getting more urgent until at last the waiter across the room notices. But by that time it is already too late because the glass has begun to crack.